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| Led by an energized Kyle Okposo, the Islanders are creating quite the story. (Credits: Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo) |
As Chris Kunitz's blast rang off the cross bar and down past the goal line, the air was sucked out of Nassau Coliseum, something the Islanders organization has been used to for most of the past 30 years. But that silence doesn't represent what the Islanders have proved to us so far this season and so far this series; they are a legitimate team.
Yeah, they got absolutely shellacked in Game 1, looking like deer in the proverbial headlights, swallowed whole by the Penguin faithful. But they found their mojo midway through Game 2, scoring two goals and knotting the game at 3 before an epic third period. Shocked is a bit of an understatement to describe the Pittsburgh crowd who, as they held a 3-1 lead, felt like this series was going to end in a broom (punny right?). But a charging Matt Martin had changed the entirety of the best-of-seven with a gritty rebound finish; the Islanders weren't going away. Then deep into the third, Kyle Okposo delivered a violent blow to the Penguins confidence ripping a shot off the boards that caromed into the net off an unexpecting Marc-Andre Fleury. Fluery slammed the ice in disgust and the crowd groaned awkwardly. Their sacred precincts violated. Their foundations cracked. Not only did the Islanders announce it would be a series, they declared it would be a difficult one.
Okposo has become a catalyst for this Islanders squad. The right winger has often been criticized for wasting legitimate talent, sometimes lacking the professional effort NHL players are supposed to give every night. You can't blame him for being drafted by the Islanders, a franchise who hasn't made it out of the first round in exactly 20 years. But you can blame him for putting forth lackadaisical performances throughout his five years in the league. Those days seem behind him. Game 3 proved to be a sensational performance for Okposo. On the stat sheet he had a shorthanded goal, an assist and was plus-one. But the stat sheet was half the story. The 25-year-old played 24 intense, fast, concentrated minutes. He stopped the Penguins explosive four-goal run by ripping top cheddar on shorthanded breakaway. In the late third and in overtime he was making all type of non-boxscore plays, keeping the Islanders right in the thick of a series most thought wouldn't get past Game 4.
The Isles ultimately lost in overtime on a stupid penalty, but that shouldn't take away from the level of intensity (and surprisingly skill too) the boys from Nassau are bringing. They're also bringing a level of hope to a fan base that has not only its dignity but its soul ripped out over the tears. This team is young with their core players averaging a tad under 25. But the Islanders have played with such grit and intensity this series that there's a belief that they could do this, that they could pull off the upset. If they level it up in Game 4, who's to say they can't do it? They already invaded the Consol Energy confines once, I don't see why they can't do it again. It's not like the Penguins are playing with the focus and intensity themselves; they're playing not to lose. And although Pittsburgh is definitely the more talented team, they just might not be clicking like the Isles are.
Of course this series could fall apart as we've seen most Islanders squads do so over the past couple decades, but at this point, with the magical way the Islanders are playing, it seems unlikely.
The Penguins have officially been put on upset alert.
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